Closure for pressurized packages



Dec. 15, 1964 J. R. Mum-HA CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED PACKAGES Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY @m4/M 2 vSheets-Sheet 2 J. R. MURTHA CLOSUREIl FOR PRESSURIZED PACKAGES Dec. 15, 1964 Filed Nov. 15, 1962 I UNH 14 lNvENToR John R. Muri/zar United States Patent O 3,16l,33l @PLSURIE FR lTRESSURlZED FACKAQES .lohn R. Murtha, Wallingford, Conn., assigner to 'l'he Rieden li/ianuf'acturing Eompany, Naugatuck, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 15, 1262, Ser. No. 237,806 (Claims. (Qi. 222-139@ The invention relates to closures for pressurized packages, sometimes called aerosols, wherein a product is confined within a container under the superatmospheric pressure of a gaseous propellant and discharge of the product from the container is controlled by a valve mounted thereon, the product normally being dispensed through a discharge orifice located in an actuator for the valve. More particularly, the invention relates to a closure that is adapted to automatically seal off the discharge orifice in the valve actuator from the atmosphere except during those periods when the package is in use.

A large number of products are now sold in pressurized packages in which the product, usually in liquid form, is discharged from its container under the superatmospheric pressure of a gaseous propellant within the container. Discharge of the product is effected by the manualy actuation of a valve ordinarily mounted in the mouth of the container of the package. Actuation of the valve is had by the user applying pressure to a valve actuator that serves as a convenient device for operating the valve and which normally contains the discharge orilice through which the product is dispensed.

Despite the continually increasing number of products being marketed in pressurized packages, there have been, heretofore, certain types of products which could not be marketed in this manner. These products include those which, for one reason or another, would either clog the discharge oriiice and passageways in the actuator as a result or" being exposed to the atmosphere, or which are of such a nature that prolonged exposure to the atmosphere would adversely affect their quality.

The difficulty arises from the fact that in the usual pressurized package there is a substantial distance between the cut-of`f point in the valve and the discharge orilice in the actuator. As a result, the passageways connecting these points are exposed to the atmosphere for long periods between successive usages of the package. inasmuch as there is always some residue of product left within these passageways after each actuation of the Valve, any product containing a nonvolatile ingredient that will dry out in the presence of air will clog these passageways and prevent any subsequent dispensing of the product. If the product is one that is adversely affected by prolonged exposure to the air, the residue of product left in the passageways will become conn taminated due to its exposure to the atmosphere and will be dispensed upon the next subsequent use of the package.

The present invention, accordingly, has for its object the development of a selrsealing closure for a pressurized package that will seal olf the discharge orilice and passageways in the valve actuator from the atmosphere without in any way interfering with the normal use of the package. Another object of the invention is to accomplish the sealingA off of the orifice and passageways in an automatic manner so as not to require specific action for this purpose on the part of the user.

In brief, the inventive concept herein is the provision of a deformable, resilient hood that is adapted to tit over the valve assembly and valve actuator that are normally positioned at the top of the pressurized package. The hood engages the package, either at the valve actuator or at the top of the container or at some other convenient ICC location, to form a hermetic seal therewith so as to define a normally air-tight chamber of restricted volume around the discharge orifice in the valve actuator. A longitudinal slit is formed in the hood in such a Way that it `is closed whenever the hood is in its nondeformed condition but which ls forced open by a compressive deforming force applied to the top of the hood. Preferably the force is substantially axially applied to the hood as such a force will also act on the valve actuator to open the valve when a vertically actuated type of valve is employed in the package.

For the purpose of illustrating how the invention may be made and used two presently preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail hereinafter. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the two embodiments shown but may take other forms different from those shown and described herein. The accompanying drawings, and the description to follow, are, accordingly, by way of example only and are not Y intended to define or restrict the scope of the invention.

The claims appended hereto, together with their lawful equivalents, are relied upon for that purpose.

0f the drawings:

FlG. l is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a pressurized package having a closure constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention, the closure being shown in its normally closed position;

FlG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the closure in its open position;

llG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in FlG. l looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of another form of the closure, the closure being shown in its closed position; and

FlG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 showing the closure in its open position.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, there is partially shown a pressurized package having a container 16 in which the product to be dispensed is conlined under the superatmospheric pressure of a gaseous propellant. In this instance the container itl is a metal can but it will be understood by those in the art that the invention can be applied to other types of containers just as well.

Discharge of the product from the container 1G is controlled by a valve assembly that includes a cup-shaped top l2. "l" he top l2 is crimped onto the upper end of the container to close it off and has a central boss 14 that rises above the bottom surface 16 of the well of the cup l2. A valve (not shown) for the package is housed within the boss ld and a hollow valve stem 18 projects upwardly from the boss 14 through an opening (not shown) formed in the top surface 2li thereof.

An actuator 22 for the valve is mounted on the upper end of the valve stem 118. The valve employed in this particular package is of the vertically actuated type and operation of the valve is effected by depressing the actuator 22 and the valve stem i3 vertically downward. When the valve is opened by the vertical depression of the valve actuator 22 the product in the container 10 flows past the open valve through the hollow valve stem i3 into the valve actuator Z2 and out a discharge orifice 21 provided therein.

As previously explained the purpose of the invention is to close olf the discharge orifice 2d inthe valve actuator 22 from the atmosphere so that the residue of product left in the passageways in the actuator and the valve stem will not be exposed thereto. In accord with the teachings of the invention a closure is provided for this purpose.

The closure comprises a deformable resilient hood 26 designed to fit over the valve actuator 22 so as to form a normally airtight chamber v28 of yrestricted volume around the actuator. An opening 30 is provided at the bottom of the hood 26 to permit it to be inserted over the circular boss 14 in the cup-shaped top 12.` In being placed over the boss 14 the hood 26 is stretched and forms an airtightv seal therewith; A slit 32 is provided in the body of the hood 26 in the region opposite the discharge orifice 24 in the valve actuator 22. The slit 32 extends longitudinally ofthe hood so as to lie in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hood. It is preferred to cut the slit` 32 on the bias, that is, so that the slit forms an oblique angle with the inner and outer surfaces 34, 36, respectively, of the hood instead of being perpendicular thereto. By cutting the yslit in this way aV of the users finger compresses the hood 26 and causes it to bulge laterally to compensatel for the longitudinal deformation resulting from the compression. Because of the lateral. bulging of the hood 26, the opposite edge portions 40, 42 of the slit 26 formed therein are parted and anv opening 44 is thereby provided .in the hood directly opposite the discharge orifice 24 in the valve actuator 22. At this point in the operation of the package the inner surface 46 of the top of the hood 26 is in engagementwith the top, 48 of the valve actuator 22. Any further downward movement of the users linger depressesjthe valve actuator 22 and the valve stem 18 and'opens the valve. Discharge of product then occurs through the valve, valve stem 18 and the discharge orice 24 in the For. most products the volume of the.

, 4 withdrawal of the` users finger. The spacing between the top 48 of the valve actuator and the inner surface 46 of the hood 26 may be varied. In cases such as that shown in FIGS. 1-3 less clearance is provided than in the case shown in FIGS. 4-5 inasmuch as continued deformation occurs during the operating stroke ofV the valve actuator 22.. It will be apparent to those skilled inthe art` that the amount of clearance providedbetween the actuator 22 and hood 26 will depend on the amount v.of actuator travel'prior to the opening of thev Valve. For certain valves there may not be any need for clearance and the hood may rest directly on top of the valve actuator. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that a spring may be mounted between the top of the actuator andthe top of the hood if: a more positive return of the hood'to its nondeformed position is desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure for a ypressurized package wherein a product is confined within a container under the superatmospheric pressure of a gaseous propellant and discharge of the product from the containery through a disvalve ,actuator 22. Inasmuch as the'slit 32 is now fully f opened the product is free to pass through the hood 26 without interference. After a desired amount of product has beenso dispensed from the package the user removes his'inger from the top of the hood 26. When this occurs the valve stein 18 and actuator 22 are returned to their initial uppermost valve-closing position by a spring (not shown) in the valve assembly. At the same time the resiliency of the hood 26V causes .the hood to assume its normal nondeforrned position. During the return of the hood 26 to this position theV slit 32 Itherein is closed and the airtight; integrity ofthe chamber 28`def1ned by the hood is automatically re-established.

FIGS.v z tand 5 illustrate how therinvention may be adapted for direct application to the valve actuator 22.

In this form of the invention the mode of operation is the same asin thefform, just described. The difference in the two forms is Athat the lower, open end 30 of the hood 2,6 is stretched over a ange 50 at the lower edge of the actuator 2v2`rather than over the boss 14 that houses the valve' assembly. In this form of the invention compression and theY resultant deformation of the hood v26, occurs only until thefhood 26 engages the top 48 of the valve actuator 22,.V Subsequent depression. of the actuator 22 does not result in-further compression and deformation Y of the hood 26. Y

The hood 26 is made from a resilient and readilydeformable material, such as rubber orsoft plastic, that will quicklyspring back to its. normal shape upon the charge orifice in a Valve actuator is controlled by a valvey tight chamber of restricted volume around the valve actuator, said hood having a slit formed therein disposed to be closed when the hood is in its normal nondeforrned lposition and to be open whenL the hood is compressed by a force axially applied thereto, said slit being located in said hood inthe region immediately adjacent and in registry with'the discharge orifice of said valve actuator when said hoodis compressed to actuate the valve.

2. A pressurized package comprising in combination,

(a) a container havingy a product connedtherein under the superatmospheric pressure ofa gaseous a propellant, ,Y

(b) a valve on ,the container for controlling4 the discharge of the product fromthe package, l

(c) a valve actuator having a discharge orifice therein yin communication with the valve, (d) and an open-ended, deformable, resilient hood that fits overthe valve actuator and hermetically engages the package at some location thereon to define ay normally airtight chamber of restricted volume around the valve actuator, Y (e) said hood having a slit formed therein in the region opposite the discharge orifice in the valve actuator, said slitbeing disposed longitudinally in the hood so as to be closed when the hood is in its normal nondeformed position and to be open when the hood isV compressed by av force applied substantially axially, I thereto.

3. A pressurized package as set forth in claim 2`wherein the slit in the hood is cut at an oblique angle with respect to the innerv and outer surfaces thereof.

4. A' pressurized package as Vset forth in claim 2 wherein said hood hermetically engages the valveactuator.

5.V A pressurized package as; set forth in claim 2 wherein said hood hermetically 'engages' the container. f

)References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,954,904 Potoczky oct.V 4, 1960 V3,089,624 Micallef May 14,*-1963 V3,109,565 f. Kwik 'N0v. 5, 1963 

1. A CLOSURE FOR A PRESSURIZED PACKAGE WHEREIN A PRODUCT IS CONFINED WITHIN A CONTAINER UNDER THE SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF A GASEOUS PROPELLANT AND DISCHARGE OF THE PRODUCT FROM THE CONTAINER THROUGH A DISCHARGE ORIFICE IN A VALVE ACTUATOR IS CONTROLLED BY A VALVE OPERATED BY SAID VALVE ACTUATOR, SAID CLOSURE COMPRISING AN OPEN-ENDED, DEFORMABLE, RESILIENT HOOD TO FIT OVER THE VALVE ACTUATOR AND HERMETICALLY ENGAGE THE PACKAGE AT SOME LOCATION THEREON SO AS TO DEFINE A NORMALLY AIRTIGHT CHAMBER OF RESTRICTED VOLUME AROUND THE VALVE ACTU- 